Kendrick Lamar Tops MTV's Hottest MCs List

March 08, 2013 07:47:29 GMT

2 Chainz nabs the runner-up spot, as MMG's boss Rick Ross, Nas, and Canadian rapper Drake round up the top five.

Photo credit: HRC/WENN

West Coast's rap artist Kendrick Lamar has just been crowned this year's "Hottest MC in the Game" via a unanimous vote by MTV's Hip-Hop Brain Trust. The "Poetic Justice" rapper makes his debut on top of the coveted list, followed only by the best of the best in hip-hop music.

Def Jam Records' artist 2 Chainz trails Lamar in the list, scoring the runner-up distinction over last year's No. 1, Maybach Music Group's mogul Rick Ross, who settles for No. 3 this year. Veteran rapper Nas also makes his debut in the list, earning the No. 4 spot just above Toronto rapper Drake who rounds up the top five.

The top five MCs are revealed a day after MTV first announced the bottom five as a preview to the complete top ten list. Placing seventh, rapper Kanye West felt he was unfairly assessed and believed he would have fared better on the list if it were purely based on the music. This rant was in contrary to what the panel claimed that the list was based on a combination of rhyme skill, flow, buzz, commercial success, business ventures, web presence, and cultural influence.

Despite West's rant, it was reassuring to hear more positive reactions, such as the one given by No. 6 MC Big Sean who tweeted, "Wow thanks to @MTV 4 saying I was a star on 'Cruel Summer' n My 'Detroit' mixtape n features were crazy last year. #6 hottest MC is awesome." All in all, top MC Lamar said the list, in spite of any recent controversies that surrounded it, was good and healthy for the hip-hop industry.